Farm truck



July 14, 1936.

L. G. KNAPP FARM TRUCK Filed May 2, 1952 4 Sheefs-Sheet l L. G. KNAPP FARM TRUCK Filed May 2, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I u: a I 8 m m N 1' '3 g Q Q E 53 R I N lml 5 00% v #3 I 93 I .fn. mm w Illlllll L mum lnverfir Le nd Knap Guys July 14, 1936. KNAP 2,047,206

FARM TRUCK Filed May 2, 1932 Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 L. G. KNAPP .FARM TRUCK July 14, 1936.

Filed May 2, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 S I r U (D Leland Km nteht July 14, 1936 r moon Leland G; Knapp, Chicago. Ill..,assignor to Montzomeryward -& 00., Incorporated, Chicago,

. 111., aecrporationoilllincls Application my z. 1932. Serial No. 608,705

s (on. zoo-33.55) The present invention has ior its primary. ob-

iect the production of a mm true]: which is constructed wholly of "metal, whereby to adord a truck capable oi withstanding the hard usage to d which farm vehicles are subjected, and thus prolong the life of the truck.

The invention contemplates a truck whichpossesses low center of gravity so as to be capable of easy loading and be free from liability oi'upto setting; At the same time the truck providw relative high clearance between-the ace. oi

the road and the bottom of the truck.

A iurther cacteristic oi the invention is a truck of knock-down construction, it adapting the some for ready shipment, and we bod interchangeable h'ont end-rear axle structures and other parts, all oi which contribute eflectively to reduce the costs oi anon facture and assembly, and to i t the sole of to the truck at a relativelylow cc. other odvantages'and features become apparent as the nature of the improvementsis better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel construction, combination and to arrgement of parts hereinafter fully described,

illustrated in the occompag drawings, end finally pointed out in the appended cl ww to of the invention made the basis oithe present disclosure delineates a preferred enit bodiment thereof. it is, however. susceptible of change, variation and 2 1i cation, and the disclosure, therefore, is to he understood i'roin the illustrative standpoint and not so hopes 1 w:

totion or restriction on the invention. 3 In the dressings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of o i tit con structcd in accornce with the present invention;

his. 2 is a longitudinal sectionoi View thereof. as on the line i;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionnl view, m on the line his. 1;

his. e is a sectional plan view, on an enlarged scale, at a portion of the-iront bolster, the reach. one of the front wheels, and the tongue'tahen on the line M. Fig. 22;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinol sectional view, also on an enlo scale, as on the line t-t, 1: i;

Figs. 6, l d 8 are de crosseechonal views W of the tongue structure. as on thelines ii-t and respectivelm Flg. 4:

Fig. s is a similar view'on the one M, Fig. t,

through one of the hound couplings:

i0 is a detail perspective view oi one oi 5 the hoimd coupling M ld-lt, Fig. 11, illustrating the mounting of the Fig. 11" is a fragmentary sectional elevation of one end of the rear bolster and the axle-skein carried thereby, as on the line lI-| I, Fig. 1;

Fig.- 12 is a sectional plan view,taken on the line l2l2, Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of one ot the skein connectors for the rear bolster;

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view, as on the line stakes on the bolsters;

Fig. 15 is a sectional plan view, taken on the line l5--lb, Fig. 11; and

Fig. 16 is a detail perspective View of one of the stake members. F

-Reierring now in detail to the accompanying 15 drawings, the numeral l0 designates the tongue oi the truck; Ill the front bolster; it the rear holster; it the reach; it thefront hounds and it the rear hounds. All of these parts are termed of metal. I I 29 At the ends of the bolsters ii and it wheels to are connected and supported in the manner hereinafter described, each of said wheels including a. metallic hub ii, a metallic rim i8 and rod spokes to connecting the hub and the rim, the ends of the spokes being upset to fasten the same securely to the hubs and the rims.

Each of the bolsters ii and I2 is of I-beamconst'ruction, the same being provided'with centrally-nrranged horizontal sleeves 2t and 2t, respectively, these sleeves receiving the forward and rear ends oi the reach it. The ends of the latter are held in the sleeves to and M by coupling pins 22 which pass vertically through the sleeves to and ti and the reach it, the heads of said 3% coupling pins 22 being received by countersinks "bolster along the reach it, and thus either short- I en-or lengthen the truck, the reach it has a series of openings it formed therein to receive the coupling pin 22 of the rear bolster, thus permit- 45 ting the latter to be slid along the reach it to the desired point and secured thereat.

The bolsters ii and I! are counterparts of each other, which permits interchangeability thereof, and this enables use of the bolsters either at the w front or the rear of the truck. .Manifestly, a ma-' terial reduction in the cost of manufacture and assembly of the bolsters thereby is obtained. Each end of the bolsters is so shaped as to provide a vertically disposed recess 26 at the upper and lower ends of which are formed vertically aligned perforated ears 2! and 28. Each recess 26 receives the inner end of an axle-skein 29,

-which inner end is provided with vertically- The present truck eliminates the use of the con- 4 ventional fifth wheel for turning the truck. In lieu thereof the front wheels I6 are mounted so that they may move in unison, this mounting affording turning movement of the truck on a relatively short radius. For accomplishing this a sleeve-like plug 34 is fitted to the inner end of the skein 29 of each of the front wheels. The plug 34 is forced into the inner end of the skein, being held in frictional engagement with a plurality of annular ribs 35 separated by grooves formed at the inner end of the skein, and thereby lightening the construction of the skein by removal of the material in the formation of the grooves. The positioning of the plug 34 is such that its inner end is flush with the inner end of the skein 29, the plug being perforated, as clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 4, and receiving the coupling pin 32. This arrangement holds the plug 34 firmly in the skein, and as the skein likewise is held by the coupling pin 32 there is no relative movement between these parts. Furthermore, the frictional engagement of the plug with the annular ribs 35 is suflicient for holding the plug in contact with theseribs.

Each of the plugs 34 is provided with a forwardly-projecting steering arm 36 on movement of which the skein 29 is swung with respect to' the bolster, thus turning the wheel l6 mounted on the skein in either direction according to the movement of the steering arm, and providing for turning the truck. A radius rod 31 has one end pivotally connected to each steering arm 36, as at 38, the other end of the radius rod bfing pivotally connected, as at 39, to a ribbed swinging tonguesupport 40. This support is substantially triangular in plan formation, the same having a centrally-disposed forwardly-directed recess 4| therein for receiving the tongue ashereinafter explained. Each of the pivotal connections 39 is located at one corner of the broadened front end of the support 40. At the rear narrow end of the tongue-support 40, which constitutes the apex of the triangle, is a vertically-disposed sleeve 42 in which is fitted a coupling pin 43 carried by an attaching head 44 provided with upper and lower jaws 45 and 46 between which the rear end of the tongue-support 40 is received. The jaws 45 and 46 are perforated for receiving the pin 43, and through the medium of the latter the tonguesupport 40 is capable of lateral swinging in the coupling head 44 in accordance with the movement of the tongue. The rear end of the coupling head is cylindrical in cross section and fits within the forward end of the reach I3, as clearly seen in Figs. 4 and 5. This rear end includes a vertically-disposed sleeve 41 through which passes the coupling pin 22 of the forward bolster II.

This coupling pin, therefore, serves to hold the reach in the sleeve 20 of the forward bolster and also to hold the coupling head 44 within the reach l3.

The tongue I 8 is tubular in form, being also of metal, and gradually tapers from its forward to its rear end. Within the rear end of the tongue I0 is fitted a connecting head 48, which is cylindrical in cross-section to fit the cylindrical end of the tongue, said head having a flange 49 which abuts against the extremity of the tongue in order to provide a proper seat for such extremity. The connecting head 48 has an attaching neck 50, the diameter of which is less than the diameter of the head, the neck 50 being substantially square in cross-section, and. this attaching neck is fitted in the recess 4| of the tongue-support 40, being pivoted therein by a pin 5|. Thus, the connecting head 48 and its neck portion is capable of upward and downward tilting movement in relation to the tongue-support 40.

At opposite sides of the tongue [8 is arranged a pair of draft bars 52. These extend parallel to the tongue III, the rear ends of the bars 52 being perforated for receiving the pin 5|, and through the latter being connected to the tongue support 20 The forward end of each'draft bar 52 has an 30 outwardly extending draft hook 56. Surrounding the tongue l0, and seated against the draft hooks 56, is a whiiiletree support 51 formed of complemental substantially semi-circular members 58,

one of which is disposed at each side of the tongue 3 l8 and fastened to the latter by a plurality of securing bolts 59 arranged in pairs above and below the tongue I0, and passing through the upper and lower edges of the members 58. Each of these members 58 has an offset horizontallydisposed guide 60 for the reception of one of the draft bars 52. At the inner side of each of these guides 60 is a series of inwardly-projecting engaging studs 6l, said studs fitting in openings 62 formed in the draft bars 52, and thereby serving to anchor the draft bars in engagement with the members of the whiflletree support. The support 57 has a seat 63 at its upper surface, which seat is fiat in order properly to support the whiffietree 64 thereon. To secure the whiflietree 64 in position on the support 51 a pivotal pin 65 is employed, the members 58 being formed to provide vertical passages 66 and 61 for receiving the pin 65, the tongue l0 being likewise perforated, as at 68, for the reception of the pin 65. This pin has a wrench head 69, and provides a ready tool for removing the securing nuts of the axle'skeins when it is desired to remove the wheels therefrom. The construction of the whifiletree support and its relation to the draft bars 52, and engagement with the draft hooks 55 thereof, imparts a rigid structure'for transmission of part of the strains of the draft imposed on the whiffletree, through the draft bars 52, to the tongue support and the front bolster. At the same time this construction also affords a firm anchorage for the whiflletree on the tongue l8, and prevents displacement of the whiflietree from the tongue. Furthermore, the draft bars 52 reinforce the connection of the tongue I!) with the support 46, so as to supplement connection of the tongue with the support through the connecting head 48.

The hounds l4 and I5 are similar in structure. Each includes a pair of tubular struts 10, each strut being bent to impart thereto the required 'the skeins -is,rigidly held on the bolster.

I acetate angle of inclination between the bolsters'vand the reach, so that the strutsaonthehounds/may lie in the proper divergentvrelation. One end of each strut Ill is..screw-'-threaded and passes through an opening formed in thezweh of the bolster with which the strut is associated. Mounted on the threaded ends of the struts are clamping nuts I I the nuts of each strut being 81". ranged at opposite faces of the bolster and serving to hold the strut firmly attached to the bolster when the nuts 1| are tightened. The other end oi each strut is unthreaded, and in order to attach the unthreaded ends of the struts to the reach it, a hound coupling 12 is employed with each of the hounds. The couplings 12 each comprise a pair of complemental sections, more specifically illustrated in Fig. 10. Each member includes a centrally-disposed dished recess It at the opposite sides of which are located divergent sockets I4 into which the unthreaded ends of the struts It are fitted. -'Fastening .bolts IE, or their equivalents, pass through the sockets I4 and securely fasten the struts 10 in said sockets. The reach it is received by the recesses It of the coupling members. Thus it will be seen that the bolsters it and I! are anchored firmly with respect to the reach I3, the latter, however, being free to be adjusted through the bolsters and the bound couplings. For attaching the rear axle-skeins to the bolster it the connector illustrated in Fig. 13 is employed. and by means of this connector eacggi e connector includes a sleeve-like plug 16 extend-' ing from one end of an attaching head II provided with parallel spaced arms 18 having aligned eyes 19 formed therein. The plug It frictionally engages the inner end'of the axleskein 29 as described, in connection with the skeins of the front wheels, The head "is provided with vertically-aligned openings 8p, and

these openings receive the coupling pin 32 where-, 'by the skein 29 is held to the end of the bolster. The latter fits between the arms 18 so as to be 45' to the threadedends of the hound struts It,

embraced by the arms, and the eyes 19 arefltted the clamping nuts ll being employed to fasten the eyes '19 tightly in engagement with opposite sides of the bolster. The construction just described gives firm. anchorage of the connectors 11 to the rear bolster, so that the skeins of the rear wheels are tightly held against movement vshaped notch 8| at the end of the space formed between the arms 18, said notch fitting snugly againsta correspondingly-shaped wall 82 at the end of the bolster between the per-forated ears 21 and 28 thereof. This provides a firm seat for the connector" at'the end of the bolster.

The stakes of the herein described truck are designated by the numeral 83. Their construction is illustrated in Figs. .14, and16. Each stakecomprises a pair of complemental members M having angularly-disposed flanges M which rise from a horizontal base Bil. An un derhanging engaging foot 81 is carried by each of the members 84,'the foot 81 being spaced from the base 36 to permit the head flange of the bolster to fit between the base 86 and the engaging hook 8'1. Each of the depending hooks til has an inwardlyextending lug 83 formed thereon, said lug being adapted to engage one or more at a series of notches so formed in the edges oi be positioned at either end of either of the bolsters. If used at .the front bolster it isbut neces- 11 as embraced in the skein connector illustrated the head flange of the bolster. This engagement of the lugs 88 and'the notches 8% establishes an interlocked relation between the stakes st and the bolsters, and holds the stakes firmly in position on the bolster. To maintain the members of g each stake in assembled relation, with the underhanging engaging-feet 81- properly positioned with. respect to the head flanges of the bolsters, themembers of each stake are held together by fastening bolts so, or their equivalent. These bolts bindthe engaging feet upon the bolster. and when the bolts areloosened the stake members may be'separated for adjustment in difierent positions on the bolster to provide for varying widths of wagon bodies that may be used within the truck. v

Each of the stakes he also is provided with a U-shaped loop M which is hingedly connected to the stake, and adapted to receive extension stakes when it is desired to employ the same with the stakes at. V

From the foregoing it is observed that :the

1 hereindescribed invention-provides a truck the features of which are largely interchangeable, thus reducing the cost of'production, and iacilitating assembly of the parts in organizing the truck. The bolsters ill and it are of identical construction, and either may be used as the forward or the rear bolster. The front and rearhounds likewise are of identical construction.

with any one of the wheels, and each skein may 40 sary to insert atthe inner end of the skein the plug 3 withthe steering arm at. If used at the rear bolster, the plug 16 and the attaching head in Fig. 13 would be substituted for the plug it with its steering arm 36. The stakes 83 also are identical in construction, and either one of these stakes may be used at any point on either of the bolsters H and I2, thereby providing for theinterchangeable use of the stakes. Thus, the con struction of the truck is reduced to an extremely simplified form, and with such simplification a knock-down arrangement is provided affording ready assembly of the parts, and permitting shipment of the truck in the knock-down condition, with attendant economy in packing and transportation.

The hereindescribed truck also possesses a. low center of gravity, due to the formation and arrangement of the bolsters and the wheel mount ings connected to the-bolsters. This permits easy loading of the truck, the body carried by the bolsters occupying a relatively low position. 65 This low center of gravity likewise frees the truck from liability of upsetting. Notwithstanding the low center of gravity there is also relatively high clearance between the surface of the road and the bottom of the truck, thereby enabling the truck to clear many obstructions frequently met in the hauling of farm trucks over rough country roads and through fields.

I claim:

i. in a truck of the class described, the corn to bin'ationwith the front bolster thereof, of'steering wheels pivotally connected to the ends of said bolster, a tongue support of substantially triangular formation associated with the bolster and provided with a centrally-disposed forwardlydirected recess in its broad end and a verticallydisposed sleeve in its narrow end, a tongue, a connecting head carried by said tongue and arranged in said recess, means for-hingedly connecting said head within said recess of said tongue support, a pair of radius rods extending between said steering wheels and said tongue support, said radius rods being connected to said tongue support at opposite sides of said recess at the broad end of said support, and a coupling pin carried by the bolster and fitted within the vertical sleeve of said tongue support to pivotally connect the tongue support with the bolster.

2. In a truck of the class described, the combination with the front bolster thereof, of steering wheels pivotally connected to the ends of said bolster, a ribbed tongue support of substantially triangular formation associated with the bolster and provided with a centrally-disposed forwardly-directed recess in its broad end and a vertically-disposed sleeve in its narrow end, a tongue, a connecting head carried by said tongue and arranged in said recess, means for hingedly connecting said head within said recess of said tongue support, a pair of radius rods extending between said steering wheels and said ,tongue support, said radius rods being connected to said tongue support at opposite sides of said recess at the broad end of said support, and a coupling pin carried by the bolster and fitted within the vertical sleeve of said tongue support to pivotally connect the tongue support with the bolster.

3. In a truck of the class described, the combination with the front bolster thereof, of a relatively flat tongue support connected to said bol- ""ster andprovided'with dforwardIy-directed recess, a tongue, a connecting head carried by said tongue and fitted in said recess of the tongue support, means for hingedly connecting said head with said tongue support, and a plurality of draft bars arranged at opposite sides of said tongue and connected to the means for hingedly connecting the head with the tongue support. a

4. In a. truck of the class described, the combination with the front bolster thereof, of a tongue support connected to said bolster and provided with a forwardly-directed recess, a tongue, a connecting head carried by said tongue and fitted in said recess of the tongue support, means for hingedly connecting said head with said tongue support, a plurality of draft bars carried by said tongue and arranged at opposite sides thereof, said draft bars being connected to the means for hingedly connecting the head with the tongue support, and means for clamping said draft bars to the sides of the tongue.

5. In a truck of the class described, the combination with the front bolster thereof, of a tongue support connected to said bolster and provided with a recess, a tongue, a connecting head carried by said tongue and fitted in said recess of the tongue support, means for hingedly connecting said head with said tongue support, a pair of draft bars extending lengthwise of said tongue, one of said draft bars being arranged at each side of the tongue, said draft bars having their rear ends connected to the means for hingedly connecting the head with the tongue support, means surrounding the tongue and embracing the forward ends of the draft bars to hold the latter in engagement with the tongue, and a binding member engaging the tongue and the rear ends of the draftbars.

LELAND G. KNAPP. 

